Automatic sewer-flusher



(No Model.)

P. B. DONAHOO. AUTOMATIC SEWER FLUSHER.

No. 535,322. Patented Mar. 5, 1895.1

ing out sewers, or other discharge pipes.

PETER B. DONAI-IOO, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

AUTOMATIC SEWER-FLUSHER. I

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,322, dated March 5,1895.

Application filed April 16,1894 Serial No. 507,757. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PETER B. Donnrtoo, a citizen of the United States,residing in Oakland, Alameda county, State of California, have inventedan Improvement in Automatic Sewer-Flushers; and I herebydeclare thefollowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to a device for periodically and automaticallyflushing and wash- It consists in certain details of construction whichwill be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawing,in which the figure is a section of a sewer man-hole, showing myapparatus in position.

The object of my invention is to provide a means for periodically andautomatically flushing and washing out sewers, or other discharge pipes,with a novel means for utilizing the man-hole well as a reservoir forthe collection of water for flushing purposes, and discharging saidwater in a body so as to produce a strong flow through the sewer.

A is a sewer and B is the man-hole well, which is built up of masonry,and has an opening made in the bottom to connect with the sewer.

The man-hole is made in the usual manner converging from the bottomtoward the top having a removable cover. The opening in the bottom ismade of considerable size to allow for the introduction of an apparatusfor the purpose of dragging and cleansing the sewer when necessary.Around this opening I fit an iron frame 0 which is set in cement asshown at D, and has ashoulder formed all around the inner edge as shown.When this iron frame has been permanently set, it remains as a part ofthe sewer connection and forms a perfectly tight joint, and the cementwhich surrounds and holds it is flush with the top of the upwardlyprojecting flange, and curves slightly upward toward the sides of thewell, thus making a smooth and permanent bottom and a tight joint.Inside this frame is fitted the base E which I have preferably made ofwood, but it may be made of any suitable or convenient material. Thisbase supports the automatic flushing apparatus, and is removable at anytime for the purpose ofobtaining access to the sewer. It

fits upon the ledge or shoulder within the frame, and forms a nearly orquite tight joint. The joint may be insured by calking around the edgeswith oakum or any suitable calking material. Near one end ofthe base alarge opening is made into which is set a valve seat F having upwardlyextending guides F.

The valve seat is of any suitable form or construction. In the presentcase I have shown itas beveled, and these parts are preferably made ofbrass or other metal not easily corroded. Into this seat fits a valve Gwhich is secured to the lower end of a cylinder H, and the cylindermoves between the guides F so as to have a vertical rise and fall and beproperly guided to its seat when it closes. Toward the opposite end ofthe base is made another opening through which passes a tube I. Thistube has a flange J castupon or fixed to it, and adapted to rest and besecured upon the top of the base. The tube extends through the base anda short distance below it. I have preferably made this tube rectangularin cross section, of greater length than width,

so as to leave space for the operation of a connecting chain, rod orrope which is movable within it for a purpose to be hereinafterdescribed, and the major axis of the tube is greater at the base than atthe top so as to allow for some movement of the connecting chain.

Above the top of the tube is journaled a wheel or segment L around whichpasses a rope M, one end of which connects with the top of the cylinderH which carries the valve, and theother end connects with the connectingrod or chain passing down through the tube as before described. Thelower end of this red or chain is connected with the bottom of thebucket N which is in the form of a rectangular scoop having the bottomof the front portion inclined upward so that itterminates about on alevel with the topsides of the bucket. The rear end of the bucket ishinged to a bracket fastened to the base plate as shown at 0, so that itis allowed to tilt about this hinge point. The rope which passes aroundthe pulley or segment is prevented from slipping thereon by means of apin P around which it makes a turn, or if a chain be used, the pin maypass through an TCO some suitable point, and has a cock by which i theflow of water is regulated.

If it is desired to flush the sewer every day, the How will be soadjusted that the water will rise to a point where it will overflow intothe tube I, so as to fill the bucket below during that interval. If itbe desired to have it flushed once a week, or once a month, the flow ofwater will be correspondingly regulated. If itis desired to use asmallerquantity of water, it may be done by either shortening the tubeI, or by making openings in its side with stoppers as shown at Q, and bymeans of these, any suitable or desired amount of water may beaccumulated for flushing purposes.

When the water rises to the point where it can enter the tube, it flowsdown and gradually fills the bucket until the weight of water in thebucket overcomes the weight of the counterbalance II. It then actsthrough the rod and rope or chain to raise the valve G, the bucket beingdepressed until its open or scoop end rests upon the bottom of thesewer. The water will then flow out in large volume through the valveopening F, and striking upon the point of the bucket will retain thelatter upon the bottom of the sewer until the whole amount of waterwithin the man-hole has been discharged.

The position of the bucket is such that it acts as a dam to prevent thewater from running back up the sewer and it acts asaguide to direct itdown the sewer. The bucket, itself, is also emptied by being tilted, andas soon as the flow of water which retains it in its depressed conditionhas ceased, the weighted cylinder H will immediately act to raise thebucket into its normal position, and close the valve when theaccumulation of water within the man-hole will again commence, as allthe openings and jointsconnecting it with the sewer are perfectly tight.

In order to form a trap and cover thelower end of the pipe, I have showna partition R extending across the bucket and to a short.

distance above the bottom of the pipe I where it dips into the bucket.This partition retains a portion of the water in the rear end of thebucket which never passes out, and when the bucket again assumes itsnormal horizontal position, this water covers the end of the pipe andforms a trap to prevent the escape of any gases from the sewer. Theapparatus thus becomes automatic and provides for the discharge of alarge quantity of water at intervals, so as to keep the sewer constantlyflush and clean without any attention. It, for any reason, it becomesnecessary to drag the sewer to clean it out, the base plate is easilylifted out of the surrounding frame, thus leaving a large clear openingfor the introduction of the dragging apparatus into the sewer.

The overflow pipe I is important because it discharges first, all oil,grease, and substances of a like nature, w-hicha siphon would dischargelast, and which, in such a case, would be liable in time to clog andchoke the apparatus.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A sewer, a man-hole and well connected therewith by an opening, aflanged frame set in cement surrounding the opening, a base remov-ablyfitted. into the frame having an opening and valve seat formed near oneend and a valve adapted to close the opening, a bucket hinged .near theopposite end below the base adapted to tilt about its hinge, a tubeextending through the base above the bucket to deliver water therein,and a rope or chain connected with the, bucket and with the Valve, and apulley orsegment over which the ropeor chain passes whereby a downwardmovement of the bucket raises the valve.

2. A sewer, a man-hole, and-well connected at the bottom with the sewer,a base fitting the opening having an opening and valve seat near oneend, a bucket hinged below the base having its rear hinged near theopposite end below the base, so. that its front portion extendsbeneaththe valve opening and is adapted to tilt downward into the sewer,apipe extending upwardly between the valve and the bucket hinge andadapted to conduct water into the bucket, a valve adapted to close thevalve opening and a counterbalance connected therewith movable in guidesto direct the valve, a rope or chain connecting with the counterbalanceand valve at one end and with the bucket at the opposite end, and anintermediate pulley or segment over which the rope or chain passeswhereby the depression of the bucket opens the valve, and the closing ofthe valve raises the bucket into its normal position.

3. A sewer, a man-hole and well having an opening in the bottomconnecting with the sewer, a base. adapted to tit and close saidopening, a bucket having its rear end hinged beneath the base, so thatit may tilt within the openinginto the sewer, a pipe extending upwardlyhaving an opening or openings through which water may enter it from theman-holeand be delivered into the bucket, an opening and valve seat nearthe opposite end of the base, a valve and counterweight movable inguides so as to normally close said opening which is in line above theouter and tilting end of the bucket, a pulley or segment journaled abovethe counterweight and water supply tube, a rope or chain connected atone end with the counterweight, passing around said pulley or segmentand thence down through the tube and connected with the bucket so thatwhen the bucket is filled with water its weight will overbalance that ofthe valve and will open the latter whereby the water collecting in theman-hole well will be discharged into the sewer.

4. The sewer, the man-hole and well having an opening connecting withthe sewer, a bucket having its rear end hinged below the base and itsfront adapted to tilt downward into the sewer, a valve opening situatedabove the tilting end of the bucket, guides and a counterweightconnected with the valve, a rope or chain connecting at one end with thebucket and at the other with a counterweight, passing over a pulley orsegment whereby the bucket and valve operate in unison, the valve beingopen when the bucket is depressed and closed when the bucket is raised,and a partition extending across the bucket in front of the point wherethe supply pipe enters the bucket whereby the latter is covered withwater when the bucket is in its horizontal position and a trap formed.

5. A sewer flushing apparatus consisting of a tilting bucket hinged atits rear end having the front adapted to tilt downward into the sewer,an overflow supply pipe by which water is delivered into the rear end ofthe bucket until it is filled, an opening in line above the front end ofthe bucket with a valve by which it is normally closed, connectionbetween the valve and the bucket whereby the depression of the bucketopens the valve to discharge the contents of the chamber Within whichthe flushing apparatus is located and the flow of water through thevalve opening acts to retain the front of the bucket in its depressedcondition and the valve opened until the water is discharged.

6. The combination, with a sewer, and a means for fiushin g the same,ota tilting bucket in the plane of the discharge of the flushing devices,said bucket having a transverse partition for retaining a portion of thewater in the bucket to form a trap, and a vertical overflow pipe wherebythe bucket is filled.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

PETER B. DONAHOO.

Witnesses:

S. H. NoURsE, H. F. ASOHECK.

